Unsung Heroes

Over the course of the school year, I have a practice of visiting classrooms frequently to talk with staff and students. While these conversations are brief, they do allow me to stay connected to learning happening in our schools and to hear directly from our teachers and students about what they are working on. Much of the […]

The Education Reform We Have Versus the Education Reform We Need

Note: A version of this posting appeared in Colorado Politics on January 22, 2019. For over three decades, the debate over education policy in our state and nation has been primarily waged on three fronts: accountability, school choice, and funding. Colorado created an elaborate accountability system of tests and ranking systems in step with federal […]

A Challenge for the New Year

At the first district all-leadership meeting for 2019, we discussed what is on a lot of people’s minds in our schools right now – budget and construction! While these topics are definitely of great importance, I also wanted to draw the attention of our leaders back to what we call “the main thing” in Jeffco, […]

Thank You, Jeffco Voters!

The results of the 2018 election have finally been certified and they mean improved opportunities for students, better pay for our educators and staff, and improved buildings in Jeffco. During this election cycle, I talked extensively with people in our community about their choices on the ballot. With ballot questions 5A and 5B as local […]

Jeffco Election Questions Take Shape

Over this spring and summer, Jeffco Public Schools has been working to engage the community on possible ballot questions for this November’s election. I’d like to take a moment to explain how Jeffco would use potential funds from a statewide effort called Amendment 73, and my recommendation to the Board of Education for local ballot […]